Lily working the hay in Chanel.

Growing up, whenever I read books and came upon words I could not understand, I would immediately look them up in my trusty dictionnary.  At one point in grade 4, I was very competitive at Spelling Bees, so I would skim the dictionnary trying to memorize as many 50 cent words as possible.  Somebody call the Nerd Brigade! 

One of my favourite words was ubiquitous which is just a fancy adjective to describe something that is ’ found everywhere.’  This is how I’m feeling about Lace, as in everywhere I turn there is the most delicate lace embroidered on sweet cardigans, a black lace pattern adorning t-shirts or lace trimmed necklaces.  I do adore this trend which done right can be very beautiful.  The most stunning laces have intricate patterns – a Spanish lace often looks like little fans interwoven with scalloped edges.  Lace also look more romantic combined with other antique details such as pleated pastel fabrics in pale blush pinks or contrasting with black satin ribbons.  But don’t be afraid to mix and match with your favourite skinny jeans. 

Free People silvery lace dress layered with a hint of pink

She's Got Legs: Lace tights with rhinestones. Oh la la!

Vogue, bring back the Supermodels! Keep your collector's editions.

So true Candy-Pratts Price.  Last night, I took in an evening show of The September Issue, a behind-the-scenes documentary which provides a glimpse into the creation of the most influential edition in the year and the struggle between creative goddess, Fashion Editor Grace Coddington and the magazine’s astute and powerful Editor-in-Chief, Anna Wintour.  With her icy demeanor and demanding industry perfectionism, she is known as the basis for the title character in The Devil Wears Prada. 

Such is the fashion business, shrouded in fantasy and glamour, sprinkled with stories of catty behaviour and flights of primadonna.  For any hardcore fashionistah, the film is a MUST to see the reality of the industry – the editors watching couture shows in Paris, previewing collections with designers to wielding their stake with major retailers.  While the movie shows both the light (creating beautiful imagery, supporting fresh design talent) to the dark (editors slamming collections before they are shown or stressful last minute re-shoots two days before closing the issue), it also highlights the individual passion and poignancy of the stories which led these creators to their ultimate destiny at Vogue.  

Anna Wintour is judging you in her Chanel boucle jacket.

It doesn’t seem seasonally appropriate to get a mani-pedi with the leaves changing colour and the cold air forcing us to put away our gladiator sandals for practical Ugg boots.  Few things give me more pleasure than getting my cuticles pushed, my nails squared with round corners and a fresh coat of bright paint on my tootsies followed by a top coat.  Confession:  There is something very comforting about checking out my perfectly painted nails while gripping the steering wheel or laying in bed contemplating the cuteness of my toenails.  

Chanel vernis: The lady was a vamp

As we are bridging the gap from Fall to Winter, here are some lovely shades that will make onlookers take notice:

• Ruby Red Slippers by China Glaze – Imagine Dorothy’s famous glittery shoes but on your nails.  This colour is perfect for dazzling at a cocktail party.
• Can You Tapas This? from the Espana collection, OPI – Kind of a taupey brown, I like the neutral look of this shade.  Very fashion forward to wear neutrals.
• Mermaid to Order, OPI for Sephora - Picture the iridescent colour of a mermaid tail, turquoises with greens and a hint of gold.  This shade was featured on the cover of the Sephora Summer catalogue.  I believe it was ahead of the curve as I am told the girls in London are all about wearing green and blue nail polish these days. 
• Vamp from Chanel – The original and now classic 90’s shades of vampire blood.   

Besides being one of the best actresses to come out of France, Catherine Deneuve is a French icon that hardcore fashionistahs often look to in the same way that most people refer to Jackie O. for classic style inspiration.  You know those impossibly stylish French women in tailored outfits, leather opera gloves, expensive blonde, red lips, hair in chignon that stroll out of Chanel on Les Champs Elysees without a care in the world – This is the “Deneuve”.  She has been the muse for Yves Saint Laurent for decades – they are on tight ’mwah-mwah’ (kiss on cheeks sound) basis.

Although I am wild for all that Deneuve has to offer, I am particularly taken with her mod style in the 1960’s.  Here are a few examples of great style that still translates today:

• The Look of Love – In Les Parapluies de Cherbourg, a french love story/musical, we have a very girlish Catherine in black hair bows, pastel rain slickers and simple A-line dresses.   My favourite is Catherine’s transparent umbrella.  Every time I see a girl in the streets with one, I think of Deneuve.

Deneuve Lights it up: Rain can’t keep my sunshine down.

• The Eyes Have It - The trademark Deneuve mod eyeshadow is a dramatic Mod cat eye with a pale coral gloss.  This is achieved by using a chocolate brown or black in the crease of the eyelid with pale shadow on the lower lid and a precise application of liquid eyeliner.  There is something very French about black liquid eyeliner.  To further your French-ification (immersion), use the European version of Maybelline, Bourjois Paris (at Sephora).
• Coiff Like Deneuve – Her hair was probably the multiple-process blonde that takes all day to perfect by the top hairstylist of the day, in the most posh of Parisian salons.  This is what I imagine.  How do we recreate this style synonymous with Deneuve?  First, use a large 2″+ barrel curling iron to curl the ends of your hair loosely.  Then part hair at the crown, tease and spritz with a generous amount of hairspray.  Retease and respritz to create maximum volume.  Take a fine tooth comb and comb strands on top to refine the messiness.  Pin hair half up with bobbypins that match your haircolour.  Tres belle!
  

  Channelling: "Allo dahling." Recline on the bed with your Deneuve tresses and cat eyes

•  Avant-garde – Catherine with her mysterious beauty was a muse to many designers and appeared as the face of Chanel No. 5 in the 1970’s.  YSL dressed the actress for many of her films throughout the 1960’s and beyond.  Although her look has evolved over the years, her style is classic, elegant and distinctively French. 

Chapeau Extraordinaire on Deneuve (extraordinary hat)

I thought it would be fun to throw in some expert opinions on the LC.  Plus, it gives me an opportunity to play the roving reporter. P is a Ladies Accessories Buyer by Day and Hipster Conoisseur 24/7.  He looks like he just walked out of a Marc Jacobs ad.  Literally.

For my first assignment on the LC,  I asked P, “If you had to pick 3 Must Have Accessories, what would they be?”  Off the top of his head, this is what he had to say with my colourful editorial commentary. 

Viva Forever: Infinity interpreted with purple fringe. You die.

1. The Infinity Scarf – I love the name.  It reminds me of infinity pools.  I think this is a VERY fun pick.  Why?  Because anything convertible can be worn in a variety of ways – a casual loose scarf, draped around your shoulders as a shrug, doubled, knotted, etc.    It’s like the time on vacation, I amused myself for an hour tying batik sarongs in the mirror.  The novelty does not wear off.  My favourite is wearing it as a hood/scarf.  Very Grace Jones and avant-garde.  Believe me, people will say “Whoa, I never thought of wearing it that way.”   
2. Long Studded, Grommetted Gloves – Are you dying?  Where do I find these gloves?  They sound Ah-maaa-zing.  It’s like that time you watched Sex & The City and couldn’t take your eyes off the Patricia Field elastic belt with punk rock grommets (forget SJP) that she wore on 3 separate outfits.  Now imagine that on leather opera gloves.  Contain your freakout.
3. Belts on ALL Outifts – Haha.  I did not put P up to this, even though I’m a big campaigner for the belting of 95% of outfits.  When prodded on specific styles, he chose “skinny that wraps 2-3 times or a chain belt with a leather tassle.”  Very wise.  You can go classic Chanel or very Sunset Blvd. Rock n’ Roll with the chains just hanging like you’re too cool to give a damn.

Tres Vogue Paris: The Classic Chanel Chain Belt

I believe accessories are the easiest way to update your look.  If you can’t afford to overhaul the wardrobe by season, picking up a few key pieces will help to breathe new life to classic items (such as black pants or solid blouses).  You really shouldn’t have to if your closet has a good foundation of pieces. If you do, you might be considered a trendwhore (which is a topic that deserves its own post).

And for those unsure of how much is too much: Excluding your handbag, if you have more than four accessories on, you’ve singlehandedly murdered your outfit.  Take something off.  Now you’re perfect.  Go in peace.

Musicians have enviable style.  Perhaps it’s the explosion of creativity that creates both an enigmatic stage persona and a confident trendsetter who pushes the envelope.  Great style is timeless and we can learn a lot from our musical goddesses.

In my late teens, I had a very retro phase where I was obsessed with playing Blondie’s ‘Heart of Glass’ on repeat full blast.  (My poor neighbours).  Blondie was hottt - platinum blonde hair, red glossy lipstick and sultry voice.  She thrashed on stage working her one-shoulder jersey dress or tight rocker skinny pants & black patent stilettos.  I had a favourite pair of “Blondie pants” that I found in a vintage store Black Market – they were tight, wet-look black spandex stretch (the kind Olivia Newton wore in the final carnival scene of Grease) straight outta 1978.  Even though I wasn’t a rocker per se, the pants always evoked the same response, “WTF are you wearing?”  Haha.  Catholic school on a Civie’s day.  So misunderstood.

• Blondie Tunes:  The Tide is High, Rapture, Call Me
• Modern Blondie After Dark:  Lurex tights from American Apparel paired with a one-shoulder tunic mini, fierce patent statement shoes, red lipstick

Rocker style: Don't mess with Blondie. She'll F you up.

The only disco diva in my books is Donna Summer.  I could sing any of her songs at karaoke.  Literally.  D-Sum epitomizes the glitz and drama that is Studio 54.  On a visit to New York, my travel partner in crime  T and I used the classic ’Bad Girls’ (toot! toot! ahh! beep! beep!) as our theme song.  Dresses with spaghetti straps and layered chiffon ruffles that makes you want to twirl on the dancefloor under the mirror ball is totally Donna.  Or any piece that looks as though you accidentally swallowed a bag of sequins and then threw up on yourself.  It has to be over the top glamour!

• Donna Summer Tunes:  Last Dance (last chance for looooove), Dim All the Lights, I Feel Love
• Modern Donna in the Spotlight:  Harem pant jumpsuit with sequin appliques and gold strappy sandals.

Dramatically Disco: Donna shows you love & a lotta leg

And an extremely influential bohemian influence for me in the mid-90’s is none other than French pop chanteuse/actress and Mrs. Johnny Depp, Vanessa Paradis.  I must point out however that I do not love her now but Vanessa during a very specific time period in 1992/93 - when she was appearing in Coco Chanel commercials as the little birdy and appearing topless except for brown suede bell bottoms in French Vogue (as Lenny Kravitz’s love interest/muse).  At the time, it was virtually impossible to get her music on tape but now it’s obsolete unless I dig up my ghettoblaster.  My besties A & D and I used to recreate her look by wearing crochet tops, suede mini skirts matched with platform boots from John Fluevog and parting our hair in the middle (key!).

• Vanessa Paradis Songs:  Be My Baby (How do you resist her as she sings in the empty swimming pool? If you have no idea what I am talking about, can you please You Tube this video to fully appreciate the reference. That good! I swear.), Natural High, Le Mosquito
• Modern Vanessa Day Look for Portobello Market:  What would Summer Roberts wear?  Slouchy suede boots, prairie dress mini, furry vest and guitar (optional).

Boho Paradis: Vanessa seduces you while sipping a Coke